CONNECT

Similarly to most any other socially aware Black person with an opinion on virtually anything of consequence, I’ve gone through my adult life being consistently and adamantly labeled by non-Black people as “Militant,” “Too Opinionated,” or — everyone’s favorite detracting tool — “Angry.” For the longest, I’d resented this term, because I never felt like I was coming from a place of anger, but simply from speaking my truth about issues I’d personally encountered and my discontent with many of them. I mean, maybe it’s just me, but I think I’m entitled to rant a bit over being called things like “Oreo” or “The Whitest Black Guy I Know” by more than one white gay man — or being chastised for being a bottom as opposed to the aggressive, Mandingo tops they like to stereotype us as being.